Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 719-008
Date: Thursday, May 4, 1972 at 10:22 AM
Participants: Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Butterfield, Alexander P.
Recording device: Oval Office
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/719-008

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[1:42:48] We'll be right back.
[1:43:33] It doesn't make any difference how the poll comes out in about years.
[1:43:37] But you'd know what's right or bad.
[1:43:38] You'd know how hard it's selling and how much you have to sell.
[1:43:43] Probably the polling, I think, on the Fed is they will say, the answer will be you've got 75% yes.
[1:43:47] I don't think so.
[1:43:52] You'll see the danger, light bulb, light bulb.
[1:43:58] Even though this would mean stopping, even though this
[1:44:08] Arms.
[1:44:09] Good luck.
[1:44:37] The boy's gone, you know.
[1:44:40] The boy's a friend.
[1:44:41] Quite a nice fellow.
[1:45:08] You know something?
[1:45:12] Everybody who's in government, particularly anybody in this office, is out of his mind, particularly when he has a major, has major decisions to make.
[1:45:26] Ever to get involved in the fifth squeak, shit ass, comms, the weekly or the news last night, who did this to why, what's that thing?
[1:45:36] Provided, Robin, this is the real condition, and folks like you, Colson, and Hurley are acting just like I would act if I were in.
[1:45:45] You've got to know the answer to the question.
[1:45:47] You've got to stay out of it.
[1:45:49] I'm sorry.
[1:46:00] He would have been worried about how Sigler handled it.
[1:46:03] The announcement there, I said, all right, it's done.
[1:46:05] He could have grown up mad and could have eaten common.
[1:46:09] I mean, he had grown up and all the rest of us both worked it out in the plantation.
[1:46:15] The work of mine didn't come too bad.
[1:46:17] Of course, okay, it didn't come out the way it should have, but it was a trouble that isn't going to do any harm.
[1:46:24] We didn't make a strong enough case for Gray.
[1:46:27] We'd still do that.
[1:46:29] of disqualification.
[1:46:30] Yeah.
[1:46:32] There's no problem on the acting director thing.
[1:46:35] I don't think we're going to have as much problem as I thought we were.
[1:46:41] You know, they'll start to plot that for the first time that you've got a political associate in the president's running bureau, which is a dangerous thing.
[1:47:10] And the point is, he's taking the point temporarily.
[1:47:14] You and I both know he's considering permanently if the thing worked out.
[1:47:18] But that's up to how he builds himself in that drive, how he gets along, how he handles it, where he engages.
[1:47:24] I don't think you can do him permanently unless by that time, his general feeling is that he should be quite much right there.
[1:47:31] You know, he's a pressure to the left guys.
[1:47:33] You know, we know they'd be able to say that all that decision.
[1:47:38] a number of people under consideration.
[1:47:40] You know what I mean?
[1:47:42] That's what Ron said.
[1:47:43] He said, well, does he want it permanently after the election?
[1:47:46] Ron said, not necessarily, but it is in the rule of law.
[1:47:48] You should say one of those would be considered.
[1:47:53] One of them would be considered.
[1:47:55] There are others as well.
[1:47:56] The very important one is one of the best families in the country.
[1:48:39] I don't know whether they got a light over there or not.
[1:48:41] I think we should take it off.
[1:48:44] I think you better take it off.
[1:48:47] They said they checked it out.
[1:48:48] They worked on it.
[1:48:50] I agree.
[1:48:50] I agree.
[1:48:50] I agree pretty well.
[1:48:53] I've been seeing this light under television.
[1:49:31] America's pride has always been its people.
[1:49:34] People of good men and women, men and demons.
[1:49:37] Of great men and women in remarkable numbers.
[1:49:40] And once in all, why?
[1:49:41] Of giants who stand head and shoulders above their country, setting a high and noble standard for us all.